Facilitating entry into an access-controlled location using a mobile communication device

Abstract

Systems and methods facilitate entry into an access-controlled location using a mobile communication device. The method comprises receiving at the mobile communication device via a communication network an entry code that facilitates access to the access-controlled location, storing the entry code in a memory associated with the mobile communication device, and, in response to determining that the mobile communication device is within the predetermined distance of the access-controlled location, transmitting the entry code from the mobile communication device to an entry-control computer system, which determines whether the entry code is valid. The method may further comprise receiving at the mobile communication device an indication that the entry code is valid, and, in order to gain entry into the access-controlled location at an entrance to the access-controlled location, providing to the entry-control computer system via the mobile communication device the indication that the entry code is valid.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method of facilitating entry into an access-controlled location using a mobile communication device, the method comprising:
 receiving at the mobile communication device via a communication network an entry code, wherein the entry code facilitates access to the access-controlled location; 
 in response to receiving the entry code, storing the entry code in a memory associated with the mobile communication device; 
 determining by the mobile communication device a location of the mobile communication device; 
 determining, in response to determining the location of the mobile communication device, by the mobile communication device whether the mobile communication device is within a predetermined distance of the access-controlled location; 
 in response to determining by the mobile communication device that the mobile communication device is within the predetermined distance of the access-controlled location, transmitting the entry code from the mobile communication device to an entry-control computer system, wherein the entry-control computer system is configured to determine whether the entry code is valid; 
 receiving at the mobile communication device from the entry-control computer system an indication that the entry code is valid; and 
 in order to gain entry into the access-controlled location at an entrance to the access-controlled location, providing to the entry-control computer system via the mobile communication device the indication that the entry code is valid; 
 wherein receiving at the mobile communication device from the entry-control computer system the indication that the entry code is valid further comprises receiving at the mobile communication device instructions indicating an entrance to the access-controlled location with the indication that the entry code is valid. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the mobile communication device provides the indication that the entry code is valid by presenting via a display associated with the mobile communication device a barcode having encoded therein the indication that the entry code is valid; and 
 in response to reading the barcode via a barcode reader in operative association with the entry-control computer system, the entry-control computer system is configured to grant entry into the access-controlled location at the entrance. 
 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the mobile communication device provides the indication that the entry code is valid by transmitting to the entry-control computer system the indication that the entry code is valid along with data encoded in a barcode included on an identity document associated with a user of the mobile communication device; and 
 in response to reading the barcode via a barcode reader in operative association with the entry-control computer system, the entry-control computer system is configured to grant entry into the access-controlled location at the entrance. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the mobile communication device provides the indication that the entry code is valid by transmitting to the entry-control computer system the indication that the entry code is valid along with identification information associated with a user of the mobile communication device; and 
 in response to identifying the identification information via an image capture device in operative association with the entry-control computer system, the entry-control computer system is configured to grant entry into the access-controlled location at the entrance. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the mobile communication device provides the indication that the entry code is valid by transmitting to the entry-control computer system the indication that the entry code is valid along with authenticating data associated with a user of the mobile communication device; and 
 in response to identifying the authenticating data via a scanner in operative association with the entry-control computer system, the entry-control computer system is configured to grant entry into the access-controlled location at the entrance. 
 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , wherein the authenticating data comprises one or more of data concerning the user's fingerprint, iris, voice, or facial features. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the entry code is received at the mobile communication device in response to purchasing access to the access-controlled location. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the access-controlled location comprises an arena including a plurality of seats and the entry code is received at the mobile communication device in response to purchasing one or more tickets for an event at the arena, the method further comprising:
 receiving at the mobile communication device via the communication network seat information associated with the one or more tickets and directions to the arena. 
 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving at the mobile communication device via the communication network directions to one or more seats associated with the one or more tickets. 
 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the access-controlled location includes a plurality of entrances, the method further comprising:
 receiving at the mobile communication device from the entry-control computer system an indication of one of the plurality of entrances to use to gain access to the access-controlled location. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 transmitting from the mobile communication device to the entry-control computer system a food order, wherein the entry-control computer system is configured to transmit the food order to a food vender within the access-controlled location. 
 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11 , wherein the access-controlled location includes a plurality of food venders and wherein the entry-control computer system is configured to select, based on a distance between the mobile communication device and the access-controlled location, one of the food venders to which to transmit the food order, the method further comprising:
 receiving at the mobile communication device from the entry-control computer system an indication of a location within the access-controlled location of the selected food vender and an estimated completion time for the food order. 
 
     
     
       13. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving at the mobile communication device from the entry-control computer system a request for information about a user of the mobile communication device; and 
 in response to receiving the request for information about the user of the mobile communication device, transmitting from the mobile communication device to the entry-control computer system information about the user of the mobile communication device. 
 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13 , wherein the request for information about the user of the mobile communication device comprises a request for demographical information about the user of the mobile communication device. 
     
     
       15. A mobile communication device comprising:
 a communication module configured to communicate via a communication network; 
 a memory; and 
 a processor in operative association with the communication module and the memory, the processor configured to:
 receive via the communication module an entry code, wherein the entry code facilitates access to an access-controlled location; 
 in response to receiving the entry code, store the entry code in the memory; 
 determine a location of the mobile communication device; 
 determine, in response to determining the location of the mobile communication device, whether the mobile communication device is within a predetermined distance of the access-controlled location; 
 in response to determining that the mobile communication device is within the predetermined distance of the access-controlled location, transmit the entry code from the mobile communication device to an entry-control computer system, wherein the entry-control computer system is configured to determine whether the entry code is valid; 
 receive from the entry-control computer system an indication that the entry code is valid; 
 in order to gain entry into the access-controlled location at an entrance to the access-controlled location, provide to the entry-control computer system the indication that the entry code is valid; and 
 receive instructions indicating an entrance to the access-controlled location with the indication that the entry code is valid. 
 
 
     
     
       16. The mobile communication device of  claim 15 , further comprising: a display in operative association with the processor, wherein the processor is configured to provide the indication that the entry code is valid by presenting via the display a barcode having encoded therein the indication that the entry code is valid, and wherein, in response to reading the barcode via a barcode reader in operative association with the entry-control computer system, the entry-control computer system is configured to grant entry into the access-controlled location at the entrance. 
     
     
       17. The mobile communication device of  claim 15 , wherein: the processor is configured to provide the indication that the entry code is valid by transmitting to the entry-control computer system the indication that the entry code is valid along with data encoded in a barcode included on an identity document associated with a user of the mobile communication device; and in response to reading the barcode via a barcode reader in operative association with the entry-control computer system, the entry-control computer system is configured to grant entry into the access-controlled location at the entrance. 
     
     
       18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having instructions stored thereon, the instructions comprising:
 instructions for receiving at a mobile communication device via a communication network an entry code, wherein the entry code facilitates access to an access-controlled location; 
 instructions for, in response to receiving the entry code, storing the entry code in a memory associated with the mobile communication device; 
 instructions for determining by the mobile communication device a location of the mobile communication device; 
 instructions for determining, in response to determining the location of the mobile communication device, by the mobile communication device whether the mobile communication device is within a predetermined distance of the access-controlled location; 
 instructions for, in response to determining by the mobile communication device that the mobile communication device is within the predetermined distance of the access-controlled location, transmitting from the mobile communication device to an entry-control computer system the entry code, wherein the entry-control computer system is configured to determine whether the entry code is valid; 
 instructions for receiving at the mobile communication device from the entry-control computer system an indication that the entry code is valid; and 
 instructions for, in order to gain entry into the access-controlled location at an entrance to the access-controlled location, providing to the entry-control computer system via the mobile communication device the indication that the entry code is valid; 
 wherein the instructions for receiving at the mobile communication device from the entry-control computer system the indication that the entry code is valid further comprises instructions for receiving at the mobile communication device instructions indicating an entrance to the access-controlled location with the indication that the entry code is valid.